Faculty of Science Faculty of Science

History of the Institute Forel

The Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences from 1st September 2016 to present

Since 1st September 2016, the Institute F.-A. Forel became offcially the Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences. This Department moved his office in August 2015 to the new building of UNI CARL VOGT: Situation map

Carl-Vogt.jpg
as well his laboratories to the building of  UNIGE,  Sciences II, 4st floor, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1205 Genève: Map

From 1980 to 31st August 2016

The Institute is created in 1980 by Prof. Jean-Pierre Vernet who was the director until 1995. The Institute is an evolution of the laboratory of limno-geology, initiated in 1970 in the Department of Geology and Paleontology of the Earth Sciences section. At that time he was one of the three structures of the section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, beside the Department of Geology and Palaeontology, and the department of Mineralogy. The institute was created in the context of promoting the ideas of François-Alphonse Forel  and its multidisciplinary approach of limnological studies.
Building Forel

Initially centered on the study and monitoring of Lake Geneva (Léman in French) and its watershed, studies have greatly passed the frontiers of Lake Geneva basin to focus on other aquatic environments in Switzerland and beyond. However, Lake Geneva still remains a priviledged natural laboratory for the study of natural processes taking place in lentic environments.

From 1993 to 2007, it is the headquarters of the secretariat of the Master in natural environmental sciences, an interdisciplinary curriculum involving lecturers from various sections of the Faculty of sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences) and other faculties of the University of Geneva.

Currently, the Institute is financially supported by the University of Geneva, through projects financed by the Swiss Science Fundation, as well as by monitoring or research mandates of the Swiss Confederation and the cantons.

The evolution of the education in environmental sciences has conducted a regrouping of the reseachers of the Faculty of sciences oriented in this field, within a single structure. The Faculty of sciences has choosen the Institute F.-A. Forel as a home unit for these researchers as early 2009.